Undefeated Field Of Play Impresses in Prelude

Barely a year after being bought for $500,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2024, exciting two-year-old Field Of Play (Deep Field) earned himself an early Group One opportunity with a brilliant victory in Saturday’s A$350,000 Group Three Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield.

Field Of Play boasts a perfect two-from-two record and has earned A$293,100 for owners Patella Express Racing.

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding made his debut at Moonee Valley in late December and made a big impression, outclassing his seven opponents by more than three lengths.

Field Of Play faced a significantly tougher assignment on Saturday but again came out on top, confirming his place among the standout juvenile talents in Melbourne this season.

Field Of Play and jockey Blake Shinn took up a prominent position on the outside of the front-running favourite Aleppo Pine (Blue Point). He drifted slightly wider around the home turn, but after balancing up in the straight, he outsprinted Aleppo Pine and dashed to the lead. Devil Night (Extreme Choice) came with a late run on his inside and got within half a length, but Field Of Play held him out for an emphatic win.

“He has taken a step forward from Moonee Valley,” Shinn said. “It is always a bit of unknown coming here to the lead-up to the Blue Diamond, finding out where you’re going to sit, but he really put his hand up today.

“Congratulations to Trent and Nat, Mike Kneebone and the whole ownership group. He’s a very exciting horse. He’s got a wonderful constitution and great attitude and that’s holding him in such good stead at this early stage of his career.”

Busuttin and Young indicated that they will now pay a late-entry fee of A$55,000 for Field Of Play to take his place in the A$2m Group One Blue Diamond (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22.

“It’s an easy decision to make when you’re running around for $2 million,” Young said. “Blake gave him a fantastic ride. He said he was going to ride him like he was the best horse in the race. He did that and he got the job done. Once he balanced up and got on the right leg, I knew he’d find another gear and he did.

“It’s great to see, it’s fantastic for Mike and Adele Kneebone, who are a big part of us getting this horse and having him, so it’s fantastic to know that we’re going to be back here in two weeks chasing a Blue Diamond.”